Heavy Snowfall Reignites Debate Over "Space Savers" In Boston

Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio

BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — It's a longstanding debate in the city of Boston when snow starts to fall—should residents be able to use so-called "Space Savers" to snatch up their parking spots?

Space savers are when residents place items such as cones, chairs, trash cans, tables, or anything from around the house to claim parking spots during a snowstorm to save their parking space when they have to move their car. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu referred to space savers as the "perennial debate in Boston" during an interview on WBZ NewsRadio this morning.

Space savers are only permitted during the case of a declared snow emergency in the city. After 48 hours, the savers must be removed from the streets. In cases of space savers being used during non-snow emergency situations, the city will remove any items placed in parking spots. For this storm, the city has not declared a snow emergency.

Read More: New Mayors Managing First Snow Storms In Office

The use of space savers is allowed in all neighborhoods in Boston except the South End. Space savers have been banned in that neighborhood since 2017.

WBZ's James Rojas was in the North End this Friday to speak with residents about what they thought about the use of space savers. One resident said she was in favor of their use.

"It's an unwritten rule," she said. "If it's there you don't move it, you don't touch it."

Not everyone is in favor of this method though. One resident said he doesn't agree with the idea of using space savers.

"Sometimes people do it but I think it's not good," he said.

One resident hadn't even heard of the use of space savers, but after learning about it, she chose her said in the debate.

"I don't know if I like that, but that's interesting," she said.

WBZ's James Rojas (@JamesRojasNews) reports.

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